World Environment Day: Kyrgyzstan signs Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action

Under the theme of fighting plastic pollution, the global community on this day acknowledged the urgent need to address this critical environmental issue. Government agencies and citizens of Kyrgyzstan joined this call underlining the importance of adopting environmentally friendly practices, reduce waste, and conserve natural resources.

At the event, the Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Oversight signed the Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action, making Kyrgyzstan the thirty-ninth country and the second country in the Central Asian region to join it and pledging to ensure that priorities for children and youth are included in climate action.

"Dear friends, protecting the environment is our shared responsibility. We cannot remain passive observers and wait for someone else to resolve the problem. Today, I call on each of you to take an active part in the fight against plastic pollution. Let's build an environmentally friendly future for us and our future generations together," emphasized Turgunbaev Melis Zhusupzhanovich, the Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic in his speech.

UN Resident Coordinator Antje Grawe in her opening remarks noted that Kyrgyzstan is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the region. She pointed out that the scale and frequency of natural disasters associated with climate change have increased 1.5 times over the past 12 years, impacting people's lives, the economy, and the natural habitat. "It is critical to approach climate change, considering its cascading impact on the lives of people, the economy, and biodiversity, and not let it aggravate existing inequalities, hitting hardest those who are poor and vulnerable, especially women and children in rural areas," she stated.

The UNRC called on youth to actively engage in climate action to address these interconnected challenges by promoting solutions that prioritize the needs of marginalized communities, ensure a just transition to renewable energy, and address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations.

The event featured various a photo exhibition, an art installation, workshops and activities aimed at promoting sustainable practices and raising awareness about the importance of collective action. Participants attended workshops on recycling old clothes into soft toys, transforming plastic into household items, as well as engaging in art classes and other activities related to plastic recycling and sustainable practices.